Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bridgeport, Brewster school levies on special election

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BREWSTER/BRIDGEPORT – Nine school district levies including two for Quad City schools are scheduled to come before voters on a special election ballot Feb. 11.
The Bridgeport School District No. 75 Replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy and the Brewster School District No. 111/203J Replacement of Expiring Educational Programs and Operations Levy are among others from the Methow Valley, Lake Chelan, Omak, Tonasket and Oroville school districts looking for voter approval next month.
Bridgeport Levy
The Bridgeport Replacement Educational Programs and Operation Levy, formerly called a Maintenance and Operations Levy) is a four-year levy for approximately $280,000 per year to be collected from 2021 through 2024. Collection will not begin until the current levy expires at the end of 2020. The amount collected each year varies as the formula is based on $1.60 per $1,000 assessed property value. In 2021 the levy amount is $280,674; in 2022 it is $297,515.
“The four-year levy was chosen for two basic reasons,” a district media release noted. “Each time a levy is run it costs the district in excess of $6,000. The fact that the second, third, and fourth year of the levy is the same $1.60 per thousand, should help assure the voters that the rate will not be increased for collection through the four years.”
In 2016 voters approved the current M&O levy that collects $1.70 per thousand assessed value.
If the proposed levy passes the district will receive $990,000 per year in equalization funds. Those funds will not be paid of the levy fails.
Informational meetings will be held at the school district office from 6:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and Tuesday, Jan. 21. School superintendent Scott Sattler will be available to answer questions. Sattler may also be reached at 509-686-5656 or by email at ssattler@bsd75.org.
Brewster Levy
The four-year Brewster Replacement of Expiring Education Programs and Operation Levy is actually lower than in past years. In 2014 the approximate cost was $3.12/$1,000, and in 2018, $2.45/$1,000. The proposed rate is $1.75/$1,000 for year one and $2.25/$1,000 for year four. The yearly breakdown looks like this:
2021        $1.75/1,000       $932,940
2022        $2.00/1,000     $1,144,955
2023        $2.25/1,000     $1,384,679
2024        $2.25/1,000     $1,488,530
The Brewster levy is the same that voters have approved in past years.
“A local school levy is a request from the school district to its citizens to help fund a portion of the cost of public education through local taxes that the state does not pay for,” a district levy summary said.
If the Brewster levy passes the district will receive an estimated $672,176 from state matching funds. Among the district programs not funded by the state are college courses, music, PE, technology, school nurse, academic elective classes, art, transportation, extra-curricular (including athletics), and more.
Ballots for the Feb. 11 election should be in the mail by Jan. 21-24.
The deadline for online and mail-in registrations and transfers is Feb. 3. Voter registration forms are available online at votewa.gov. Individuals may also register at county auditors’ offices. In Okanogan County the location is 149 Third Ave. N. Room 104 in the county courthouse in Okanogan. In Douglas County the auditor’s office is located the county courthouse at 213 S. Rainier St. in Waterville.
Ballot drop-off locations include Bridgeport City Hall and 180 Pateros Mall in Pateros.
 

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